Highlights of Sicily Tour

The best way to see Sicily is on a circular route, with Catania as the place to arrive and Siracusa the place to start.  The east of the island is where it all began: prehistoric Sicily, coast where the Greeks settled, and Syracuse, where the first and greatest golden age of Sicily flowered. From Siracusa, we can follow a circular tour of the greatest sights of the island. arriving at a restful epilogue in the east, in Taormina, Sicily’s most famous beauty spot, before flying out of Catania.  This is how you might understand Sicily as you enjoy her, in a relaxed and comprehensible chronological order.

Temple of Concord,
Agrigento

Day 1 -- Arrive in Catania.  We meet you at the airport and take you to Siracusa, checking into a charming hotel in the ancient city center of Siracusa, Ortigia. When everyone has arrived, we’ll have a welcome and group meeting.  As you will be jet-lagged, the first day will be reserved for settling in and getting oriented. That includes a walk around the incredible island-peninsula of Ortigia, its rich history, palaces, narrow lanes, unique cathedral built within a Greek temple, Jewish Quarter, Arethusa fountain, and shops.  Welcome dinner at a great Siracusa restaurant (incl) and overnight at Siracusa. Approdo delle Serene. 

Day 2  – Today is our grand tour of Siracusa, for two centuries the greatest of ancient Greek cities, beginning with the world’s only surviving ancient Greek fort and its lovely overlook of the coast. We continue on to one of the world’s two finest Greek Theatres, the Ear of Dionysius, and the Roman Amphitheatre. After a midday nap, we will have a cooking class with a renowned local chef, with dinner on our creations  (incl) and overnight at Siracusa. Approdo delle Serene.

Day 3 -- We visit the charming town of Modica where chocolate is made in the Aztec way as brought to the island by the Spaniards. We continue through the delightful Hyblean Highlands, seeing some splendid scenery (deep gorges and wildflowers) in the deep interior of Sicily to lunch at a remote dairy farm where farmer Ornella and her husband Salvo treat us to the produce of the farm (incl). We will take an afternoon visit to Noto, a Unesco world heritage site of honey-gold baroque, and there might be the option of a traditional Sicilian puppet show in the evening (subject to their variable performance schedule). Dinner on your own  (we’ll have recommendations) and overnight at Siracusa. Approdo delle Serene.

Day 4  -- Depart Siracusa for the amazing Roman villa del Casale at Piazza Armerina with the greatest mosaic floors of the ancient Roman world.  We travel further out across rolling countryside to the vineyards of Feudo Principi di Butera for a tasting and elegant light lunch. (incl). Then we take an afternoon drive on country roads to Agrigento, where we find the Greeks again, with temples the equal to those in Greece itself. Dinner at a favorite seafood restaurant (incl) and overnight in Agrigento, in a hotel overlooking the temples.  Hotel Domus Aurea.

Day 5  – We travel west along the remote south coast to the ruins of the Greek city of Selinunte on its evocative windswept coastal site. In the afternoon, we travel to Marsala, for a winery tour and tasting (either in the Florio or Donnafugata wineries--incl). Then we proceed along the salt flats and romantic windmills of far western Sicily, talking of Carthaginians and Garibaldi. Dinner and overnight in a restored nobleman’s estate near Marsala. Baglio Oneto.

Day 6  – We continue to Erice and tour the ancient mountaintop town founded by Aphrodite, ruled by Hercules, where a cult of sex once flourished. We sample the pastries at Maria Grammatico’s shop, made famous by Mary Simeti’s book Bitter Almonds. We turn north to visit the incomparably beautiful  temple at Segesta that Virgil tells us was founded by Aeneas. Dinner at one of the best restaurants for real Sicilian cuisine (Altri Tempi--incl) and overnight in Palermo. Hotel Grand et des Palmes.

Day 7 – A morning walking tour of the incredible sites of old Palermo, including matchless gems like the Palatine Chapel and La Martorana. We lunch at a Focacceria, famous for its Slow Food quality and its anti-mafia stance (not incl). In the afternoon, you are free to pursue your own interests in Palermo (we'll have recommendations). Dinner on your own (we’ll have recommendations here too) and overnight in Palermo. Hotel Grand et des Palmes.

Day 8 – In the morning, we visit the Norman cathedral of Monreale, one of the handful of greatest cathedrals of the world. Then we drive along the coast to the charming seacoast town of Cefalù, before continuing into the Madonie mountains to Relais Sant’Anastasia, our hotel in an ancient monastery, where they have been making wines for a thousand years. A relaxed day, we might have time either for Palermo's bustling outdoor Ballarò market, some beach time in Cefalù, or the mountain village of Castelbuono, depending on which you prefer. Organic wine tasting and dinner (incl), and overnight at Relais Sant’Anastasia.

Day 9  -- Up Mount Etna, home of Cyclops, through volcanic landscapes to the end of the road. A variety of walking choices are available if Etna is behaving herself on this day. Then onto the charming village of Savoca for a walk about the village where scenes from The Godfather were filmed. Check into your lovely hotel in Taormina with views over the sea. Pizza dinner (incl) and overnight in Taormina.  Hotel Villa Belvedere.

Day 10  – Visit the Roman theatre in Taormina with its famous view of the coastline and Etna. Rest of the day free to relax, swim, and enjoy the shops, views, and restaurants in Taormina. We finish your tour with our “Arrivederci “dinner at a local restaurant (incl).  Hotel Villa Belvedere.  

Day 11 – We will take you to Catania airport for your flight home.

NB: Itinerary Adjustments:

1. Throughout the year, there are different opportunities available to us, and we will adjust the itinerary to reflect events available only in a specific month or season. For example, the June tour will add a performance at the magnificent Siracusa Greek theatre (optional--ticket cost extra); the May tour might add the Noto Flower festival (subject to timing); tours June to October might allow for more beach time. An item on the itinerary might be dropped to accommodate such additions.

2. This is Sicily, so attractions sometimes close without warning.  We cannot guarantee all the items on our itineraries, only that substituted activities will maintain the overall value of your tour.

3. Please check with us as to itinerary adjustments in the month you are thinking to visit. And, sure, give us your ideas; we’re flexible.

NB: Walking: Sicily can be rugged and temples and villages tend to be on high overlooks. If you are comfortable walking, then this tour will be easy for you, but anyone with trouble negotiating several flights of stairs, or steep rocky slopes, or level distances over a mile, please speak with us.